Strictly and wine o' clock

Some weeks I'll open a bottle of red (when I'm not counting propoints) Love a nice merlot. Get it ready with pizza or nibbles for the start of Strictly. By 6.30 the sun is definately well above the yard-arm!

fiftynotout wrote:G & T while cooking dinner then a couple of glasses of merlot through strictly (and another one through X factor).

I'd need a whole bottle to sit through that

Ha ha, it was only the second time this year.... and confirmed I was right to have missed it!

I haven't watched any of the X Factor this year!! Think I would need a triple jegmeister to keep me watching plus a strait jacket!!!
Btw IACGMOOH most definately glass of wine & cheeseboard night returns Sundays!!

Sax

gingercodgers wrote:It's an Italian blend and it's very nice.
I do like all the ones you mentioned, just Californian I'm not all that keen on.
Can't beat a Full bodied Chilean

Was wondering where this thread was when Sax mentioned it to me!

If you're into reds and Chilean than I can say you will love Carmenere, it's gorgeous and I'm not much of a red drinker these days, I can manage half a glass with food but it actually makes me sick otherwise, and they can't have much tannin in.

I do like a glass or two, don't often drink spirits these days unless I have company or go out with friends, I used to work in the hospitality trade and in my twenties could really handle it but these days more than 2 glasses gives me shocking hangovers.

I am a massive foodie and love my wines, new world more than classic French(other than burgundys), a crisp sauvignon blanc is my favourite, but more often than not it's Spanish Ruedas, reasonably priced and dry and fruity. I'm not sommelier standard but I did like to know the wines I used to sell so I could recommend to customers.
The hypermarkets sell a small range of international wines but the local wines are so good and cheap I rarely splurge, I do miss my chilean wines though!

A really good Spanish red region is the Ribera del Duero, never had a bad one and the prices start her from a couple of euros. Less known than Rioja and possibly better at the lower end of the price range.

Sals I must admit to avoiding Spanish wines I couldn't cope with a glass of Rioja without a massive headache! So never tried any others!! If a red mentions spicey tones I avoid it!!!! In France we used to buy the red local wine from the vineyards incredible value & a wonderful taste & no headaches!!! Think its an age thing as Ive switched lately from red to white!! Love a Chenin Blanc,Savingon Blanc,Chablis & a White Pinot Noir!!! Usually New World wines!!! Ive just brought two bottles reduced half price & put them away for Christmas!!!

I if get the chance love fine dining & a different wine with each course! Not the bottle a glass!!!

Sax

If I can find the ones you mention I will give them a try but they are usually supermarket ones that I get now. I used to get some from an on line wine merchant years ago and there was a lovely one from Australia, I think it was called Yarunnga(sp). I loved it but the OH wasn't too keen as it was a very thick, rich and full bodied red about 15%. Trouble was a couple of glasses and it had the effect of sleeping pills. No ill effects though so it wasn't all that bad

When we were at St Emillion in France we had a case sent back of a gorgeous Red wine!!! Cost a fortune but ooh so lovely!!! Its a lovely village every other step a wine merchant asking you to sample a few glasses!! & then you stop for lunch have a sleep & then go back & try some more!!!
Ill try & find Sals wine!! too.

Sax

saxonsiren wrote: Its a lovely village every other step a wine merchant asking you to sample a few glasses!! & then you stop for lunch have a sleep & then go back & try some more!!!


Sax

Sounds heavenly Sax

You should be able to find carmenere easily in the supermarkets, when I discovered it it was in Asda and was 3.50 a bottle! Unfortunately as Chilean became more popular the price started going up. Any wines from South America are worth trying, a lot of money is being spent in the whole area but the prices are generally very good.

Unfortunately here the bodegas if they have new world wines you´re looking at nearly 20 euros a bottle, I got excited recently to find Alcampo (lower priced hyper than Carrefour) with a teeny international section!

I can´t do spicy reds either, soft only for me, tempranillos and pinot noirs are usually good for me, but like Sax I´m a white lover, or rosé, I think they´ve improved a lot over recent years. A white rioja is actually very good, tastes similar to a sauvignon blanc.

Free wine sampling sounds fabulous!

Never heard of a white Rioja that sounds a tempting challenge!! Rose very nice in the Summer as long as not strawberry sweet!!!! We all sound good wine conissours!!! Now if it was Whiskey or Real Ales I wouldn't have a clue!!! Wonder if Mr D/Sid has a favourite??

Sax

Ah ale, well I know a little about Shepherd Neame´s, it was the brewery I worked for, they have a lovely Autumn one called Late Red, I´m not a big ale drinker but it´s delicious!

Ooh - Shephard Neame is my other half's favourite. Think it reminds of his youth spent in Dover

Mr Alls is a lover of real ales and single malt! Late Red is often on our Strictly o' clock menu!! And the big man in red always brings him a bottle of Glenfiddich for the festive season

The Oh loves Glenmorangie/12 yr old Glenfiddoch & also any 10 year peaty Whiskey!! He loves real ales of course Banks' & also Black Sheep,Pure Ansom,EPA,Black Dog. also he does enjoy same as me a Peroni

Sax

Strictly o'clock time tomorrow!

Sax

don't forget to tell her our brilliant idea for a feature on getting the Exiles down to London to do Friday Panel and then be VIP guests on the show....maybe the final?!

ok!!!

Sax

Ditto to that! When the show airs can you post up a link? Have fun tomorrow!

Im getting really nervous now!!! I have butterflies!!

Sax

sax wrote:Im getting really nervous now!!! I have butterflies!!

You'll be great Sax, enjoy! Good luck

gingercodgers wrote:I
Can't beat a Full bodied Chilean

Ooh, Ginger, I don't need to go to Chile, Robin Windsor is full bodied enough for me

Just caught up with this thread... very interesting reading (though not sure if Jenny the researcher still popping in, perhaps her show has aired?).

We Exiles started off as being a very abstemious lot and ended up by page 4 being raving wine/whisky/real ale buffs!

As for my Strictly o'clock - like many of the more mature of you, Saturday night no longer means queuing from 6 pm to get into the dance hall (and the associated bar!) but rather ringing the Indian takeaway, booking my seat on the sofa, putting the phone on silent and pouring a couple of refreshing lime and sodas. For a real treat, I'll sometimes have a dry martini and lemonade and for the Christmas show, make a real Snowball (none of that bottled rubbish)!

MissingLilia wrote:
Ooh, Ginger, I don't need to go to Chile, Robin Windsor is full bodied enough for me

Caledonian C.raig is ok!! He had been away & his back & safe!! We can all stop worrying now . Watching Homeland now with a cool glass!!!

Sax

I'm having a bit of a Chelsee moment. Does Caledonian mean Scottish?!